I want this, but don't need that - Prologue pt. 1
Whenever you're in or out of the game, never get too confident in yourself.
Kenji of Class 2030, just in middle school and now in high school, is working to join the boys' volleyball club here at Shibainu barogy kukou as a first-year student. Although it is not a popular sport, he tries to practice whenever he can.
Because Club Manager Kobayashi notices him, he is given the chance to join in on the intensity of the unusual sport. Faced with tryouts, he deals with drama between his friends and family, with schedules and deadlines, rest is something Kenji doesn't have.
When was it so silent?
"Tonight's match determines the last of this season's score. Will Armin Takizawa, reigning champion of Shibainu barogy ko ko, save his team's spot in first place from Pansāko suto ko ko?"
Listening to the radio on the seat across from me, I silently stare at it intently.
“Takizawa!” Tatsuki yells over at me, waving at the back of the bus.
I jump from whatever headspace I'm in and look over at him.
“What do you want, Takahashi?” I stand up from my seat and head towards the back of the bus.
Sitting down, I peer over at him. “I said this back at our school already. I'm fine. I'll be able to play in today's's game.”
“Just try to relax today, we don't need another teammate to fall, especially with the game coming up.”
“Whatever, just can't wait to kick that ‘Akuma's ass-” the bus stops suddenly as we all crash into each other.
“Listen up, Volleyball Club! This is our final game of the season, we've gotta bring it home tonight or nothing we've done matters. Takizawa, are you sure you're ready tonight? We can get Terizaka to come in for you if needed.” Kobayashi asks, looking over at me with her clipboard.
Kobayashi is our club manager, if it wasn't obvious. Compared to us, she's a junior, so she'll be with the guys next year if she stays with us.
As the bus comes to a cleaner stop, I grab my bag and walk off, watching the sunset as we walk to the entrance of the courts.
“Sato! Did you bring an extra water bottle? I forgot mine again.” “seriously, dude, you seriously gotta bring one next time,” Sashimura shakes his head disagreely.
We head into the locker rooms, and I watch as Akuma stars at me across the room before going back to his phone. “...the hell.”
“Takizawa, your phone is buzzing.”
I don't take the time to look at my phone and leave it on silent, looking over at Sashimura and heading out with the rest of my team.
Walking out into the court nervous as a wreck that I almost fumble in my steps, with the rest of my team, I head out into the court.
"Armin, you okay?" Takahashi whispers, grabbing my shoulder.
"I'm fine, just looking forward to who wins in the end," I lie straightforwardly.
Sitting on the bench, our team looks for the court we're playing on, and I can see the other high school using it for practice.
“Sato, put on your stuff already! We're waiting on you,” I glare at him as I drop my stuff and walk over to the courts.
“Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Shibainu barogy koukou from Down North against Pansākou suto koukou!!”
“Nakamura, take over for Hagiwara, they need the extra help from the last game...” Sato whispers in his ear, nudging him and going into position.
"Takizawa! You've got front, right?" Sato yells from behind while I nod and give him the okay.
Standing in position, I look across the net, trying to avoid the gaze of my enemy, who is staring directly at me awkwardly. Kazuki Akuma, my sworn enemy since the start of the season.
The whistle blows Standing ready in position as I watch the ball fly over the net faster than light itself.
Halfway through the first period, and I'm the official setter, but I can't shake off this feeling of that look in his eyes, "Damn you, Akuma..." Getting ready to jump, I throw the ball into the air and spike it straight in the middle.
"Look who finally decided to speak up," The words shot through my head, causing me to almost miss my next serve.
His unnerving glance spikes something in me as I breathe deeply to calm myself.
"Nakamura! Set me!" Sato yells, throwing himself backwards as the ball plummets towards me, letting me bump it towards Nakamura to set it so Sato could spike, until they block it... they did say it out loud anyway.
On instinct, I'm already diving for the ball as I dig under it just as Hagiwara and Sashimura quickly pass it over to the back.
As the second period begins, I'm currently benched and see the same guy, Akuma, staring at me again. Full of it I walk over to his side of the bench. "What's your problem?"
Akuma, with one leg over the other, turns moderately at me and usually replies, "You've been ignoring me"
"The hell is that supported to mean?" He pulls out his phone and shows texts that I've clearly ignored 'on purpose.'
"Don't try to fail this game too badly, okay?"
I side-eye him as I walk back over to my side of the bench, grabbing a bottle of water and shooting it in my mouth from the side as I wipe my head with a rag.
“What do you even want from me, creep...”
“See you on court.”
"1 to 2 now in this fourth period, will the reigning champions of Pansākōsuto kōkō finally have their record streak taken down by Shibainu barogy kōkō!?"
Stepping back on the court, I stare down Akuma as I throw the ball high in the air, running after it and leaping into the air, slamming my wrist hard onto the ball as if it'sa bullet shot.
"Hagiwara! Sato!" I run to the right, leaping into the air as I fake the ball, Letting Hagiwara spike it and giving us the point.
Halfway through the fourth period, 21 to 19. Four more points and we win this season's biggest game yet. "Takizawa! Back left!" Takahashi yells, Sato and Nakamura back towards the front.
"Nakmura! On me!" I run back, digging under the opposing team's serve, letting Sato back set, and Nakamura spike it into our next goal.
"Three more goals". Takizawa, serve it all the way." Sato yells at me, passing me the ball while stepping back so I can head to the back of the court.
Sprinting, I jump serve straight to Akuma, watching as he doesn't hesitate to... miss the ball? "What the..." Is he trying to fail or what... dumbass.
"This is it, everybody! This last point will win the game for Doggubarogy as long as Akuma keeps making mistakes like this
Looking over at Nakamura's serve, positioned just on the left side of the net, I get ready to win this last game.
"21 serving 25!!" Nakamura yells, putting all his force into the serve.
Due to his recklessness, Nakamura's serve was missed, letting Ashikaga and Kobayashi save it. I couldn't help but laugh a little, you know?
"Takizawa! Like we practiced!" Takahashi yelled, throwing himself behind me as I ran backwards.
"Will Aoi" s serve give team Pansākou suto a fighting chance?
I peer over at Akuma while waiting for the ball, his gaze making me uneasy as I try to snap back into focus.
Takahashi brings the ball up, letting Sashimura spike it over, just to get blocked by Aki and Kobayashi.
Sato quickly divides for the ball, and I set it over to Nakamura so he could spike it, but Akuma just had to save the ball.
As the ball comes back to our side, I look over at Takahashi and nod. "Back and forth!"
Sato just saves the ball from the dive as Takahashi runs over to set it for me. This will be it, this will be the spike that saves the point and gives us the whole season's worth of effort.
Running to the side, Akuma stars intently at me, which catches me off guard as I head toward the left of the court, Sato setting it at me.
Taking a leap of faith, lunging into the air with all my might, I head towards the rising ball and spike with all I could, opening my eyes as Hazuki tries to save it, until it ends up flying out of the court.
Before I finish falling, I lock my gaze with Akuma again, his expression shifting to something more serious as I forget how close I am to the ground.
What was below me that they were yelling at me from?
*CRACK*
Eyes around me widen in shock as I lift myself from the table, trying to support myself with both arms.
Akuma runs over to me as my heart nearly stops from looking over.
"Takizawa!!"
